Ophthalmic mounting



Feb. 6, 1934. N, M, BAKER OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Sept. 21, 1929 NELSON lgwgggge A TTORNEY' Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED srArss PATENT OFFICE OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING setts Application September 21, 1929 Serial No. 394,356

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings and has particular reference to an improved bridge securing means between the lens holding members of a protection mounting.

A principal object of this invention is to provide means for securely attaching and at the same time easily removing the bridge in an ophthalmic mounting and particularly in a goggle or eye- 10; protector where an adjustable or flexible type of bridging member is used.

' Another object of the invention is to provide means of locking the removable bridge in place so that there will be no opportunity for it to slip 15,, orloosen while the mounting is in use.

Another object of the invention is to make possible the ready removal of soiled and worn bridge covering members and their replacement by new ones without the use of special tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide quick and simple means of adjusting the distance between the lens holding members in such a mounting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 26 will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing 30- from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described as the preferred forms only have been shown by way of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. I is a front view of an ophthalmic mounting embodying the invention.

Fig. 11 is a section on line II-II of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a view of one side of the mounting 4,0 shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a section similar to Fig. II showing the parts separated.

In most types of eye protectors used in industrial occupations by welders, chippers and others,

'; the eyecups do not usually have a rigid bridge member between them, but on the contrary a very flexible member, such as a chain, which permits a close contact between the edge of the eyecups and the wearers face. These chain bridges are often covered with a rubber tube or some similar protective member which prevents the chain from becoming rusted and discolored from perspiration and the like. It is also a feature of these bridges that adjustment of the distance between the eyecups is usually made by twisting one eyecup and so shortening the chain. As the chain is invariably permanently fixed. to the eyecups at each end and not removable Without a great deal of labor and damage to the eyecups, it will readily be seen that the protecno tive covering will become soiled and unsanitary after a short time and that no means are provided for changing it. It will also be apparent that drawbacks are associated with twisting the eyecups for adjustment, such as non-permanence 05 of the adjustment and undue strain on the covering member from the unnatural position of the chain inside.

It is the prime object of my invention, therefore, to provide simple means to overcome these and other disadvantages and to provide an efficient, economical and withal ingenious means to carry out the objects of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar characters Ofreferencedesignate similar parts 7 throughout the several views, the numeral 1 denotes the eyecups of molded fiber or other suitable material of a protection mounting which have the lenses 2 held in position by a threaded cap member 3. The eyecups 1 are ventilated by the slot 4, preferably protected from the entrance of flying fragments by the mesh screen 5. A head band 6 loosely held in place by the anchor plate '7 allows the eyecups to be held in position on the head of the wearer.

The preceding construction is the usual one for the type of mounting being described but may be varied at will, as may seem necessary to obtain the best results from the invention. The invention itself is applied to the bridge construction and contemplates a much simpler ,construction than has heretofore been used.

This improved and simplified construction consists, as shown in the drawing, of a bridge 8 which may be a chain of fairly small links in keeping with the dimensions of the rest of the mounting and which is covered by a tubular sleeve 9 of rubber or other soft protective material. Securing the bridge 8 to each eyecup is a hook member 10 bent to the shape shown in the m0 drawing and having its lower portion 11 formed as a curved plate and joined to the eyecups 1 by rivets 12 or other securing means. The hook member 10 is preferably tapered to a blunt point at the top so that the link of the chain 8 will readily slip thereover.

From Figs. II and III it will be seen that the hook member 10 is spaced from the eyecup 1 enough to allow the cap 3 to be screwed down between said hook member and the eyecup. In no Fig. II the hook member 10 is shown closely contacting with the cap which is in place and it is obvious that the chain 8 cannot free itself from the hook 10 when the cap member 3 is in position.

In Fig. IV the cap member 3 is shown unsecured and a space 13 left between the hook 10 and eyecup 1 where the chain 8 may pass through. It is apparent, then, that while the cap is in position the chain 8 cannot be removed and when it is unscrewed the chain 8 is freely removable. The hook member 10 is preferably made sturdy enough to prevent it being sprung from contact with the cap member when the eyecups are stretched upon the face of the wearer and may be of metal or other strong material for this purpose.

In the operation of the device the chain bridge 8 may be placed with its end links encircling the hook members 10 and the cap 3 and lens 2 screwed into position as shown in Fig. II. The length of the chain 8 will set the distance apart of the eyecups and may be shortened either by removing links or hooking the second or third link instead of the end one onto the hook member 10. This forms a ready means of adjustment and is quite permanent for any wearer as distinct from the prior art method of twisting one eyecup which was obviously a very transitory 1- adjustment and lost as soon as the mounting was removed from the wearers head.

The chain member 8 being easily removable makes it a simple matter to change the rubber tubing 9 when soiled or worn and so adds to the cleanliness of the goggle and prevents rusting of the metal chain which would take place where a worn tubular covering to be used as was inevitable in the prior art.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple yet ingenious means of carrying ophthalmic mounting of the type described without the danger of the bridging member becoming loosened while the mounting is in use.

' Having described my invention, I claim:

'1. In a device of the character described, a pair of eyecups having a threaded end, a bridging member extending between the eyecups, a hook on each eyecup engaging said bridging member and cap members engaging the threaded ends of the eyecups between the hooks and cups to retain the bridging member in position.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of eyecups having a threaded end, a bridging member extending between the eyecups, a hook member on each eyecup engaging said bridging member, a cap member engaging the threaded end of the eyecup and movable to close the entrance to said hook member when the bridging member is in place therein, and movable to open said entrance to permit removal of the bridging member.

'3. In a device of the character described, a pair of lens holding members, a bridging member extending between the lens holding members, connecting means on each lens holding member engaging said bridging member and cap members engaging the forward ends of the lens holding members and extending, between the connecting means and lens holding members to retain the bridging member in place.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of eyecups, a bridging member extending between the eyecups, a hook shaped member on each eyecup engaging said bridging member, a cap member engaging the forward end of each eyecup and movable to close the entrance to said hook shaped members when the bridging member is in place therein and movable to open said entrance to allow the removal of the bridging member.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of lens holding members, a lens on each lens holding member, a bridging member extending between the lens holding members, a hook shaped member on each of the lens holding members engaging a portion of the bridging member and separate removable cap members engaging the forward end of each lens holding member and having a portion extending between the hook and 1'11) lens holding member and movable to lock the lens on the lens holding member and the bridging member in position between the lens holding members simultaneously. a

6. In a device of the character described in combination with the lens holding means of an ophthalmic mounting, a securing member secured at one end to the lens holding means and extending outwardly and substantially parallel with the side wall thereof and forming an open mouth adjacent its end opposite its attached portion, a bridge member having a portion extending into the open mouth and engaging the securing member and lying between the parallelextending portion thereof and the lens holding means and a lens retaining ring for securing a lens on the lens holding means and for simultaneously closing the mouth of the securing member to retain the said bridge member in place on the securing member.

. 13f NELSON M. BAKER. 

